Cannabis Treatment for Cancer: Is It Effective?

Cancer is one of the main health issues of our century. Every year, more and more people are diagnosed with this condition. Among all medical uses of marijuana, oncologists most often recommend the plant as the part of anti-cancer treatment. Despite being classified as a Schedule I drug (no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States), cannabis is believed to be very effective in managing cancer symptoms when used in combination with traditional treatment such as chemotherapy. . However, the question still lingers. Can you cure cancer with marijuana?

Numerous studies prove that cannabis can be used as an effective treatment for various conditions. Yet, on the federal level, marijuana still does not have neither a good reputation nor unanimous acceptance.

In general, the word “cure” should be used with caution in terms of oncology. Not long ago, very few patients could be cured while today their number is considerably higher. A person is considered to be cured if they do not express any evidence of cancer for five years.

Specialists Reached Consensus

Dr. Abrams, one of the leading experts of the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine believes that most patients he treated during his long career in oncology probably used cannabis. Unfortunately, not all of them were completely cured. What we do know for sure is that marijuana is great for managing some o the symptoms of the illness (and of its treatment by conventional means) like nausea, insomnia, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, and pain.

This approach is perfectly balanced and represents the consensus—while a general agreement exists that marijuana is a viable remedy for cancer symptoms, we still need to come to a conclusion whether or not the plant and its components can be presented as the cure for the condition itself.

Considering that cancer affects many people, we all need to hear the confirmation that cannabis is, indeed, effective. And we hear numerous tales about it. Despite the above-mentioned consensus, the Web is full of heart-wrenching stories about people who have been cured of cancer using cannabis oils and other plant's derivatives. However, many people forget that they have been using conventional therapies alongside medical cannabis, and the results are a combination of both. We should not omit any facts and small details about people's treatment. The exaggeration cannot be good. The issue of cancer treatment is too important to believe anecdotal claims.

There Is Hope But We Need More Research

Many studies that have been conducted in the sphere of anti-cancer treatment show promising results. Many of them prove that cannabinoids may considerably slow down or even stop the growth of cancer cells. This applies to various types of cancer, including breast, lungs, liver tumor cells, melanoma, and leukemia. Madrid's Complutense University's study showed that one-third of the tested rats with malignant brain tumors benefited from receiving synthetic THC. The research of cannabis treatment in now at the pre-clinical stage, meaning that the studies are conducted on animals. It is clinical research that can provide a concrete answer on whether marijuana is a proper cure for cancer when it is used separately from the conventional therapy.

National Cancer Institute has already acknowledged the positive effects of this treatment in preclinical studies. Now it all depends on the federal government and its attitude towards the situation. Its draconian position may be changed in the future, and the anti-cancer cannabis treatment may find a new lease of life.